Bitter Sweet Goodbyes

Yesterday was a bittersweet day..
We all came to the sad decision to find Charlie a new home
The new house has old hardwood floors, with soft wood that got scratched up under his feet.
Even after clipping his nails, (which he hated) the problem didn't go away.
Our downstairs neighbors complained about the click clacking, and I know what it's like to be them.
So we were constantly telling him to sit down, or go to bed.. which just isn't fair to anyone.
I bought a bunch of rugs, but I can't afford to cover the entire house. 
He and Destinee's kitty don't get along well at all, so their scuffles were a big loud mess as well.
And, going back to my promise when we first got him in July, "If him and Samson don't end up getting along, we will find Charlie a better home. Samson was here first."
I thought about all the possibilities for Charlie.
I thought of how much happier he would be in a house where he could be the only dog, and that thought made me happy. He had the tendency to push Wicket out of the way when Wicket was being loved. He had the habit of pushing Wicket over while he was going potty, and marking right where Wicket was standing. He would have loved to be the only dog in someone's life.
Charlie is a very sweet and loving dog.. but with the complaints from downstairs, the scratches to the hardwood floors, and Charlie having to wait in his bed.. We decided to find him a better home.
I put an ad up, and some people came over to see him.
An older couple who just lost their dog.
They were looking for a Corgi, and someone to give lots and lots of love to.
Their kids had all moved out, so they needed someone.
The wife sat on the floor with him, and he jumped into her lap and stared into her eyes.
Charlie is very good at making people fall in love with him.
And he is very very good at falling in love with people. 

I told them all about Charlie. How he loves to play fetch, go on car rides, watch movies, and snuggle.
They decided he was the one. I teared up a bit, because I was sad we had to do this, but happy he found a family to love him all the time. In a house they owned with a big open space for play time, and no downstairs neighbors.
They opened up their car door, and Charlie jumped right in, without looking back at me.
He was never nervous about the whole thing, never anxious, or upset.
I really felt like I did the right thing.
Charlie needed a freer home, and he needed to be the center of someone's attention.
He needed to live a life where no one complained about him walking, or scratching the floors.
He needed them, like they needed him.
And I saw that the moment his new momma looked at him, then looked at her husband with that warm smile of love.

Yesterday when I first posted about this decision on Facebook, I had a lot of negative comments.
I want you all to know, that this decision was thought over, and I had Charlie's best interest in mind.
And the best interest for everyone, the neighbors, the kitty who hated him, and his potential new parents.
I know I could have clipped his nails to the quick, or put rubber covers over them. I could have had him be more of an outside dog, I could have spent hundreds of dollars on rugs, and hundreds of dollars to resurface the floors... Or I could have found him a home that needed him more than me and Wicket. I really do feel good about my decision.